Chapter 4: This child is Ze'er's?

Qi Yuning looked toward the soft, adorable little toddler eating small wontons outside the house and said, "Let's just raise her for now, and then slowly look for her parents. Perhaps the child just got lost."

Qi Yuning had originally thought that Xiao Lingling was someone sent to deal with the Qi family, but upon deeper thought, that was impossible.

After all, a three-year-old couldn't even speak clearly; it was unlikely anyone would send a three-year-old to plot against the Prince Qi's Mansion.

Qi Yu'an said, "This child is cute. If we truly can't find her parents, let's adopt her as our younger sister. It would be good for you to have her around to keep you company on ordinary days."

After finishing her breakfast, Xiao Lingling wiped her little mouth with a small handkerchief and ran pitter-patter to Qi Yuning's side. Pulling on Qi Yuning's sleeve with her tiny hand, she said, "Dearest Mommy, let's go play at Star-Moon Lake!"

Hearing Xiao Lingling's words, Qi Yuning asked, "Star-Moon Lake?"

Xiao Lingling nodded and said, "The swings at Star-Moon Lake are fun."

If Qi Yuning remembered correctly, there was only one Star-Moon Lake in the entire Shengjing City, and it was located within Princess Pingrou's estate.

Star-Moon Lake was precisely the lake in Lu Baozhu's courtyard, spanning a full thirty acres.

Although Qi Yuning often bickered with Lu Baozhu, she had been to Star-Moon Lake a few times. She didn't know if the Star-Moon Lake Lingling spoke of was the one in Princess Pingrou's manor.

Xiao Lingling took Qi Yuning's hand and said, "Dearest Mommy, let's go home to play on the swings."

Qi Yuning asked tentatively, "Lingling, do you know the way home?"

Xiao Lingling nodded. "Mm-hmm."

"Then Lingling, lead the way home."

Xiao Lingling nodded and said, "Dearest Mommy, the way home goes this way."

Xiao Lingling walked ahead with her short little legs, while Qi Yuning led the two maids, Guyu and Lichun, behind her.

Qi Yuning noticed that Xiao Lingling wasn't heading toward the main gate of the Prince Qi's Mansion, but instead went toward the western side gate. Xiao Lingling stood on her tiptoes to reach the door bolt but couldn't reach it; she didn't lose heart, however, and instead crawled through a dog hole nearby.

The dog hole was extremely small, and Lingling could barely squeeze through. Qi Yuning hadn't even known there was a dog hole here.

Could it be that Lingling had also crawled through this dog hole?

Qi Yuning opened the side gate and followed. She saw Xiao Lingling crawl out of the dog hole, round an alleyway, and knock on the eastern side gate of Princess Pingrou's manor.

It took a long time for someone to come and open the door. The servant who opened it said crossly, "Where did this blind person come from? You dare knock on the side gate of the Princess's manor?"

Startled by the shout, Xiao Lingling turned around and hugged Qi Yuning.

Qi Yuning picked Xiao Lingling up and said, "The blind one is this County Princess."

The servant recognized the County Princess from the neighboring Prince Qi's Mansion. He swallowed hard, not daring to say anything more, and was even too frightened to try and stop her.

Seeing the County Princess enter the Princess's manor while holding a child, the servant felt something was wrong. Even if the County Princess was entering the manor, she should have allowed him to report to the Princess first before entering; how could she just walk in by herself?

Furthermore, why did the child in the County Princess's arms look so much like his Young Master?

Carrying a three-year-old was somewhat strenuous for Qi Yuning, so she set Xiao Lingling down.

Xiao Lingling walked along with practiced familiarity. This wasn't Qi Yuning's first time at the Princess's manor; there were many banquets held there throughout the year, yet she was still not as familiar as Xiao Lingling.

Qi Yuning was now certain that this Xiao Lingling must be a child of the Lu family. She hadn't expected that while Lu Ze appeared to be a gentleman like jade, he actually had a daughter before marriage?

The Guan family had trampled on her reputation just to climb toward a good husband, only to pick up a hypocrite who hid the existence of a daughter before marriage?

Qi Yuning followed Xiao Lingling to a quiet courtyard. In front of the courtyard's plaque, two large, flowing characters were written.

Qiyuan Garden.

The threshold of Qiyuan Garden was very high, and Xiao Lingling had to climb over it. A servant guarding Qiyuan Garden saw a child intruding and shouted, "Where did this little child come from? How dare you trespass into the Young Master's courtyard?"

Qi Yuning was still outside. She recognized this as Lu Ze's courtyard. Hearing the servant being harsh to Xiao Lingling, she stepped over the threshold and entered. "This is a child brought by this County Princess."

Qi Yuning felt a surge of doubt again—did even the servants around Lu Ze not recognize this child?

Several servants looked at each other. "County Princess, this is our Young Master's courtyard. Even if you bring a child, you cannot just barge in..."

Then, several servants clearly saw that the little girl who had barged in looked exactly like their Young Master, and the words of obstruction died in their throats.

Xiao Lingling ran into the courtyard and opened a side room, only to freeze in place.

Lingling scratched her little head and said, "Why has Lingling's home changed? Why has Lingling's room turned into a place for books? Where is Lingling's bed? And where is her soft carpet?"

With a puzzled expression, Xiao Lingling scurried into the wing of the eastern courtyard. She pushed open the door, entered, and scratched her head again. "Dearest Mommy, your and Daddy's room has changed too!"

Qi Yuning entered Lu Ze's sleeping quarters. The quarters were divided into an inner and outer room. In the outer room, facing the window lattice, was a pearwood desk piled high with scrolls labeled with things like "Dali Temple" and so on.

The inner room was separated by cloud-blue curtains, and a precious sword hung in front of a wooden couch; it was clearly the residence of a man.

After looking around, Xiao Lingling said with reddened eyes, "Lingling's little bed is gone too. Does Daddy not want Lingling to sleep in her little bed anymore?"

"Yuning!"

From far away, a warm voice drifted over.

Qi Yuning turned her head and heard the sound of swaying hair ornaments clashing. Princess Pingrou's voice arrived before she did: "Yuning, I was just thinking of going to the Prince Qi's Mansion to apologize today. I didn't expect you to come first. Quickly, come into the main hall to have a cup of tea..."

As Princess Pingrou entered, she was very polite to Qi Yuning, showing none of her usual princess-like airs.

Seeing Princess Pingrou enter, Qi Yuning bowed and said, "Your Highness, the Princess."

Princess Pingrou repeatedly helped Qi Yuning up and said, "No need for formalities. Yuning, I am truly sorry about yesterday. My youngest son is a muddle-headed fool; from now on, I shall act as if I don't even have a son. If you don't mind, you can be my goddaughter in the future!"

"Waaaah!"

Just as Princess Pingrou finished speaking, a milky, childish crying sound was heard.

Seeing Princess Pingrou, Xiao Lingling cried with heartbreak and grievance: "Grandma, Daddy made Lingling's little bed go away, and Lingling's room is gone too. Does Daddy not want Lingling anymore? Waaaah."

Princess Pingrou was suddenly embraced by a pink, jade-like three-year-old. Hearing the little child's cries, her heart melted instantly.

Princess Pingrou knelt down in a fluster and said, "Oh dear, oh dear, don't cry, don't cry. Whose child are you?"

Princess Pingrou took out a silk handkerchief to wipe the tears from the little child's face. When she saw the child's features clearly, Princess Pingrou was utterly shocked!

"Grandma, don't you recognize Lingling anymore?"

Xiao Lingling felt that everyone was being strange today. Her Mommy and Uncle were strange, and even Grandma was strange.

Princess Pingrou looked at Lingling, then stood up and looked at Qi Yuning. "Yuning, this child is my Ze'er's?"

This child looked exactly like Lu Ze when he was young, and she even called her Grandma. Seeing how cute and well-behaved she was, she must be Lu Ze's daughter!

Upon hearing Princess Pingrou's words, Qi Yuning said, "So she really is the daughter of Young Master Lu. Since the child has returned home, I should also be leaving."

Qi Yuning's hatred for the Lu family had not faded, and she did not wish to stay longer.

However, just as she took a step forward, Lingling grabbed her leg. "Dearest Mommy, don't go."

Seeing her young granddaughter calling Qi Yuning "Mommy," Princess Pingrou repeatedly exclaimed, "That scoundrel Ze'er! To have such a big child with you, Yuning, and not even tell this Princess! Yuning, don't worry, this Princess will definitely get justice for you!"

Qi Yuning said, "Your Highness, you misunderstand. I am not this child's mother."

As soon as these words were spoken, Lingling's tears fell like broken pearls.

Looking down at the quietly sobbing, aggrieved Xiao Lingling, Qi Yuning felt a painful ache in her heart.

Lingling looked up with aggrieved eyes, her little head drooping pitifully as she said, "Dearest Mommy, do you not want Lingling anymore? Lingling will be good, she won't want the little ponies anymore. Dearest Mommy, please don't go."

(End of Chapter)